there will be one more yule Lads post tomorrow....

But tonite we went out and had supper at the Pickwick and for an Xmas dinner.....

It was really nice....

Life is good.

Day thirteen of the Yule Lads - Welcome Candle Stealer.

And here is the final Lad... Must mean it's Christmas Day tomorrow.

Kertasníkir (Candle Stealer)

Candle Stealer is the 13th and final Yule Lad for this year. Even though he steals candles to eat them, (YES! he eats them) he seems to be the most generous of the Lads. This might have something to do with him arriving last, on the morning of Christmas Eve.

In days of old candles were very expensive, and strictly controlled in an Icelandic household. For that reason, it would have been very uncommon for children to have been given one. Around Christmas time however, there is very little daylight in Iceland each day, so it was necessary to give candles to the children at that time. Candle Stealer was known to sneak around in the dark behind children with candles, waiting for his chance to steal them. At that time, candles were made from animal fats, and were edible, therefore Candle Stealer would quickly gobble them up!

Chasing the children
On dark dreary nights....
They ran round the farm
Under bright candle lights.

What if he nabbed one?
Would he gaze at it's glow?
Or just eat up the tallow....
Does anyone know?

Merry Christmas to all... 

Life is Good.

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Day twelve of the Yule Lads - Welcome Meat Hook

Ketkrókur (Meat Hook)

Second to last  of the Yule Lads to arrive is Meat Hook.  In days of old he would lower a hook down the kitchen chimney to pull up a leg of lamb or whatever other choice morsels which were being smoked in the pan.

These days Meat Hook will use his hook to snatch meat from anywhere, but since his pole is very short, often has little success.

Meat hook attempts to snag his meal

A meat of any sort

Unfortunately he would soon discover 

His hook was much too short.

His hunger pains began at once

And he began to sob.

"Don't worry son"  We'll bring a ham

Came a note from Tom and Bob.

Life is Good....

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Day eleven of the Yule Lads - Welcome Doorway Sniffer.

I think Doorway Sniffer is my favourite.  I just might go to Iceland next winter and join up with him on his pre-Christmas run.. sounds like fun.. whoops... rhymes!

Gáttaþefur (Doorway Sniffer)

The eleventh Lad is Doorway Sniffer, a long mustachioed and big-nosed fellow. Now, instead of developing a nasal complex and turning to rhinoplasty, Door Sniffer used his big old snozzola  to his own advantage, seeking out freshly baked goods.  The nose knows!

Icelandic laufabread was the scent

and Doorway Sniffer was just the man

To follow his nose and track down a loaf

Baked freshly in a pan.

To doorway sniffer there was no choice

This bread was the absolute tops

Now if only he could steal a few loaves,

And avoid a meeting up with the cops.

Yes,  Life is Good

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Day ten of the Yule Lads - Welcome Window Peeper

Hey... hitting double digits today... Lad number 10 visits today.. 3 left (I think I'm going to make it!!!)

Gluggagægir (Window Peeper)

The tenth Yule Lad is Window Peeper. Although this lad is not as greedy as the others, he will  still stand outside the home peering through the windows. Yes he does appreciate a warm meal, but his main motive is looking for any toys that have been left lying about. If he happens to see something he likes the look of, he will break into the house and steal them.

You'll find that Window Peeper 

Is a rather silly twit

He steps up to the window - Peering into it.

Whatever toys are left about

To which his eyes are drawn

He makes a note to sneak inside,

And steal them later on.

yes...

Life is Good

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Day nine of the Yule Lads - Welcome Sausage Swiper.

Seems to be a re-occuring theme... the boys are obviously very hungry when they come down from the hills....

Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Swiper)

The ninth Yule Lad is Sausage Swiper who is, for some reason, the most popular of the Lads. In days of old, he would sneak into the rafters of the house and steal any sausages that were being smoked there. This practice is very rare in most Icelandic households these days. Now if he can't find a brat, he will attempt to steal slices of pepperoni found on leftover pizzas.

Sausage swiper loved the taste
Sweet smoked sausage with a BBQ baste.
He climbed the rafters and raided from there
The sweet aroma around him
More than he could bear.

Sitting on the cross beam in soot, grease, and smoke
He gorged himself on sausage
Fit for Wisconsin folk.

Yes...Life is Good!

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Day Eight of the Skyr Lads - Welcome skyr gobbler.

Skyrgámur (Skyr Gobbler)

Skyr Gobbler is the eighth Yule Lad, who will attempt to sneak into the pantry and eat any tubs of Skyr that he could find. Skyr is a dairy product popular in Iceland that is made from milk cuds, It is quite similar to yoghurt. 

I have to stress that I could not find a Skyr container for my photo props... beer is nothing like skyr .... But when you actually sit down and give it some thought.. maybe "Skyeer Beer" would work?? It almost rhymes!

Skyr Gobbler is a rather slow bloke
He would pound on the skyr tub
Until the lid broke.

He'd then sit there gorging
His appetite well known
He'd eat till he burst
Then lay down and moan.

Life is good

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